Indexing device



S. C. MORAN. INDEXING DEVICE. APPLICATION mzo JUNE 19. 1920.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

poses.

PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY G. MORAN, OF. HOUSTON, TEXAS.

INDEXING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Application filed June 19, 1920. Serial No. 390,152.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY C. MORAN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Houston, in the county of Harris and tate of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indexing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an indexing device. The object of the invention is to provide an indexing device in. a folder or book form arranged to open in the center and whereby the contents of each page of the book or folder will be at once indicated b a suitable heading carried by the exposede ge of each page. This result is obtained by means of graduated pages, each page being cut entirely across from edge to edge and being shorter than the page immediately behind it. The pages are or may be formed of paper of varying colors, so as to readily d1stinguish the headings one from another and prevent said headings from g ving the 1mpression to the eye of solid prlnted matter, the change of colors enabling the eye to readily distinguish the headings and easily locate the desired heading. 0

Another feature of the device resides in the provision of a thumb cut-out extending through the edges of the pages on one side to the center for the purpose of enabling the book or folder readily to be opened precisely at the center.

A further feature of the device resides in the provision of a reinforcing strip which is creased lengthwise and which extends along the central crease of the folder and is extended beyond the top edge of the cover, the strip also bein provided with an eyelet in its extends end for hanging pur- This central strip serves as a reinforcement for the construction and insures the opening of the folder at thecenter. 7

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the folder in open position, Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof showing the folder open, but showing the far side thereof elevated so as to bring into view the thumb cut-out and to display the graduation of the pages and the color plan thereof, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper right hand part of the device shown in Fig. 1

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 refers to the outside covering of the book or folder. This outside covering is preferably formed of one continu ous sheet of tough durable paper or similar flexible material, and is creased from top to bottom along its central line, as at 2. This covering may be made of any desirable color and in the drawing is indicated as being red. The covering is followed by a plurality of sheets, indicated respectively by the numerals 3, 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, those indicated by the odd numbers being shown as white and those indicated by the even numbers being shown as blue, purple, and green, respectively. These sheets are of uniform width and are approximately equal in width to the width of the covering. The bottom edges of the sheets are arranged even. The upper edge of the sheet 3, however, is cut entirely across from edge to edge, making it somewhat shorter than the covering so as toexpose the upper edge of the covering. Likewise the sheet 4: is somewhat shorter than the preceding sheet 3 so as to expose the upper edge of the sheet 3. Similarlye'aeh sheet is somewhat shorter than the one immediately preceding it so that the upper edge of each sheet is exposed entirely across when the folder is open at the center. These-sheets are crease'd'along thecentral line, the crease of each sheet coinciding with the creases of the Sother sheets and the crease of the covering. The sheets "and the covering are secured together by means of staples 19 or by some other suitable form of'securing means.

An inner covering 20 of tough paper or other similar flexible material is provided. This covering is of the same width as the other sheets and itsplower edge coincides with the corresponding edges of the other sheets, while its upper edge falls short of the sheet 18 so as to expose the upper edge thereof. The reinforcing strip 21 is preferably made integral with the sheet 20, both be found desirable where there is being creased lengthwise in the same manner as the other sheets of the folder and being secured in position by means of the staples 19.

The graduated sheets are not cut oil to form steps from one page to the other, but each sheet at its inner part has a portion which underlies the strip 21. These underlying portions of the two adjoining sheets form a pad or stub under strip 21, and are of the same or substantially the same width as the strip. This is illustrated in Fig. 2, where the numeral 25 designates the pad or stub under the strip, and is more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

A thumb cut-out 22 is provided, consisting of a cut-away section semi-circular in cross-section and passing entirely through one edge of all of the sheets. This cut-out is provided in order that the folder may be readily opened exactly at the center. The strip 21 also assists in the ready opening of the folder at the center, inasmuch as it is usually formed of thick paper which is more or less flexible. As hereinbefore stated, the strip 21 extends beyond the covering 1 and the extended portion has an eye 23 to be utilized when it is desired to hang the folder up.

This device is adapted to be used for a great many purposes, such, for example, as for railroad timetables, catalogues, pricelists, menus, pamphlets, indexing and filing devices, and in fact for all similar purposes where it is desired to bring the table of contents of the folder into immediate view upon opening the same, it being necessary, of course, to vary the dimensions, material and construction. to suit the different uses to which the same may be put.

The different colors of the sheets may also be varied in any manner desired so that adjacent sheets will be of different colors in order to assist the eye in more quickly arriving at the desired page.

he outer and inner coverings, as well as the back side of each page, may be used for advertising purposes or utilized in any other manner as may be found practical or desirable.

The exposed upper end of each sheet has the indexing or heading indicating the contents thereof, each sheet having two headings, one on each side of the central line, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

If it is so desired, each sheet may be made in duplicate or triplicate or in any number.

or example, behind sheet 3 a plurality of blank sheets of equal length and width may be provided, and the same is true of the other sheets. This form of construction will a great data to come under each heading. have shown only one form of this it is obvious that the mechanical amount of Vi hile I device,

structure thereof may be varied as hereiir before stated without fleparting from the principle of the invention, and l hereby 1'e serve the right to make such changes as will not depart from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described consisting of a. plurality of sheets approximately equal in width, creased along a central line, an outer and an inner covering for said sheets formed 03!. flexible material, said coverings being also creased and the creases of the sheets and coverings coinciding, the lower ends of said sheets and coverings being approximately even and the other ends of said sheets and coverings being graduated so that the graduated end of each sheet and the back covering will be exposed to view when said device is opened in the center, and means for securing said sheets and coverings together along said creased line.

2. [i device of the character described consisting of a plurality of sheets approximately equal in width, each sheet being creased along a central line, an outer and an inner covering for said sheets formed of flexible material, said coverings being also creased and the creasings of the sheets and coverings coinciding, a means securing said sheets and coverings together along said creased line, and a central strip formed, of flexible material and creased lengthwise areach sheet being ranged within said device and whose crease coincides with the crease of said device, one end of said strip being connected to the inner covering and the other end thereof being free and projecting beyond the outer covering and being provided lower ends of said sheets and coverings being approximately even and the other ends thereof being graduated so that said graduated end will extend beyond the sheet immediately across the sheet and thus expose one end of each sheet to view.

3. A device of the character described consisting of a plurality of sheets approximately equal in width, ranged even at one end and at the other end being graduated in length so that each sheet will be slightly shorter throughout its length than the sheet immediately behind the same,

with an eye, the 10a in front thereof substantially said sheets being arthus exposing one end of each sheet to view,

comprising a plurality of sheets approxi- 1 0 mately equal in width, each sheet being their other end so that the graduated end of creased along a central line, an outer covereach sheet and the back covering Will be eX- in and an lnner covering for said sheets, posed to view when the device is opened in 10 said coverings being also creased and the the center, and means for securing said creases of the sheets and coverings coincidsheets and coverings together.

ing, said sheets and coverings being approximately even at one end and graduated at STANLEY C. MORAN. 

